World Cup Brazil 2014

Arena da Baixada is the stadium in the city of Curitiba (see other host cities) which will host matches of the World Cup 2014.

There are two major teams in Curitiba: Atlético Paranaense, to which Arena da Baixada belongs, and Coritiba, which is owner of another stadium called Couto Pereira.

Above, a photo of Arena da Baixada in January 2010. The image shows that a good part of the stadium is yet to be completed.

From the beginning, it was known that, if Curitiba was chosen as host city, then Arena da Baixada would be chosen as the stadium, for it is clearly much more modern and in much better shape than Couto Pereira; in Porto Alegre, only other city with a similar situation, the dispute was much fiercer.

“Baixada” means “low lands”. This is because Atlético Paranaense is located in a relatively lower altitude, compared to the central area of Curitiba (where Coritiba is located).

The official name of the stadium is Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães. Mr. Guimarães was President of Internacional-PR, an old club which merged with América-PR, thus forming Atlético Paranaense; Mr. Guimarães started the stadium’s construction in 1912, and the inaugural match took place in 1914.

In 1997, the old stadium was demolished. In 1999, the new stadium, now renamed to Arena da Baixada, was opened (which explains why this is one of the most modern stadia in Brazil). In 2001, Atlético Paranaense was champion of the Brazilian League, and the stadium experienced its record attendance: 31,740 people.

From 2005 to 2008, the Japanese company Kyocera became a sponsor of Atlético, and the name of the stadium was changed to Arena Kyocera.

Below, an artistic image of the new Arena da Baixada.

The lateral side which today is incomplete will be finished, bringing the stadium closer to an Arena. Capacity will be increased from current 25,400 seats to 41,375 seats.  Two parking loots will be built, one inside the stadium fitting 1,908 vehicles and one outside the stadium fitting 7,500 vehicles. The restaurants and commercial sectors will be expanded.

Arena da Baixada is one of the three private stadiums to host matches of the Cup 2014 (the other ones are Beira-Rio and Morumbi). Because the stadium is private, the Governments (Federal, State and city) are less willing to inject public money to carry out the necessary works; this report of March 5th informs that, according to the managers of Atletico, works in the stadium will start in 2011 or, at the earliest, after the World Cup 2010 is finished.

Beira-Rio is a stadium located in Porto Alegre, capital city of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost in Brazil.

It was well known that Porto Alegre would be chosen as one of the host cities of the World Cup 2014. However, it was also known that there would be a dispute between the two main teams of the State, Internacional and Grêmio, to decide whose stadium would stage the matches in the city (Porto Alegre is the only city in the world to have two teams World Champions of Football).

Grêmio has also a large and modern stadium, the Olímpico Monumental; however, following technical criteria, FIFA and CBF decided that Beira-Rio would be the stadium in Porto Alegre.

Beira-Rio means “by the river”. The stadium is also known as Gigante da Beira-Rio, which means “the Giant by the river”. The photo below (source) shows why: the stadium is big, and was built by the Guaíba, the river which washes Porto Alegre.

The more recent photo below shows the Beira-Rio and, besides it, the Gigantinho (Little Giant), the indoor arena which also belongs to Internacional.

The official name of Beira-Rio is Stadium José Pinheiro Borda. Mr. Borda was a Portuguese citizen who headed the building of the Stadium, between 1959 and 1969. Most of the bricks used in the building were donated by supporters of Internacional.

Interesting to notice that Internacional have today over 100,000 paying members, and Grêmio  has a similar number. In no other place in Brazil, do teams have such a high number of paying members (even popular teams like Flamengo or Sao Paulo have millions of supporters, but very few pay a monthly fee).

Beira-Rio was opened on April 6th 1969, with a match between Internacional and Benfica, from Portugal; inter won by 2×1. Record attendance was in 1972, in a match between Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul, with 106,554 attendants. Today, the capacity is for 56,000 attendants.

Beira-Rio is probably the Brazilian stadium closer to fully comply with the FIFA demands to host a World Cup match. All chairs have been recently replaced, the TV and telecommunication areas have been refurbished, the pitch has the best grass in Brazil, the access areas provide for easy arrival and clearance of visitors.

However, the stadium will gain some more improvements until 2014. The image below shows an artistic view of the New Beira-Rio, designed by Hype Architects.

New Beira-Rio will gain a shopping center and a hotel. The roof will be extended. More chairs will be added to the lower ring, bringing total capacity of Beira-Rio to 65,000 people.

With this capacity, Beira-Rio will compete shoulder to shoulder with Morumbi for the title of largest private stadium in Brazil (Beira-Rio, Morumbi and Arena da Baixada are the three only private stadia which will host matches of the World Cup 2014).

So, Beira-Rio is a strong candidate to host important matches of the World Cup, such as the opening match or one of the semi-final matches (the final will probably be in Maracanã).

Read also this blog about Beira Rio 2014.